Improve Seasonal Allergies with Better Indoor Air Seasonal allergies are a challenge for many people. In the spring and autumn, pollen grains, mold spores and other seasonal irritants leave allergy suffers feeling miserable. In an ideal world, retreating to the safety of your home would give you a break from allergy triggers. However, poor indoor air quality can concentrate allergens and leave you feeling even worse. What Causes Seasonal Allergies? Allergies are an unpleasant part of life for a large section of the population. You’ve probably heard of people with life-threatening allergies to things such as bee stings, peanuts and shellfish. Other people may have a mild allergic reaction to pet dander. The red itchiness from poison ivy is an allergic reaction to a compound found on the plant. The human immune system causes all of these reactions. When you injure your body, you may see swelling and redness at the site. These are signs of your immune system at work battling bacteria and preventing infection. When you have a cold, the sneezing and sniffling are byproducts of your body fighting off the virus. An allergy is what happens when the immune system treats something harmless as a threat. For...
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Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell? When temperatures rise during the summer, you want your air conditioner to be in peak functioning condition. An AC that is operating accordingly will enable you to remain cool and cozy even in the middle of a heatwave. Unfortunately, as you keep relying on your air conditioner over the years, the machine’s wear and tear are likely to lead to various malfunctions. One of the most common cooling system problems that customers complain about is the foul smell that seemingly suddenly permeates from the unit to the rest of your household. Any mysterious smell from your AC unit may indicate myriad malfunctions and needs to be addressed accordingly. Want to know the reasons why your AC unit is suddenly giving off an unbearable odor? Here are seven possibilities. 1. Clogged Air Filter Your AC system is likely to pick up pollutants and other particulates during its day-to-day operation. Over time, these substances build up significantly and may manifest in terms of a foul smell that spreads when the air conditioner is operating. If your air filters have unwanted particulates, then the air in your indoor environment will become unhealthy and hazardous. Make sure to...
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Maintenance Agreements Maintenance agreements offer several benefits in cities like St. Louis, MO. An HVAC Maintenance Agreement is similar to a business guarantee to an HVAC company like . For your loyalty, you are given some benefits like: Priority customer status Discounts of some parts No overtime charges Inflation Adjustments Peace of mind When you sign an agreement for maintenance of your heating, cooling, and ventilation system, you understand that regular inspections and HVAC tune-ups are important. This is how you keep the unit within the warranty. It is also how you ensure that it makes it to its expected life expectancy. Since the equipment is cleaned, lubricated, and tested, the unit is less likely to break down in the middle of summer or winter use. Energy efficiency is achieved more easily, which leads to lower energy costs. You are also less likely to incur costly repair costs. The following are the types of maintenance agreements offered by . Air Conditioner Maintenance It is said that the kind of weather experienced in your area is hot, humid, and damp as well as wet and wetter. So, you probably spend a lot of time indoors. While indoors, you probably want to...
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Frequency Of Air Conditioner Service You may ask yourself how often you need to service your air conditioner if it is already functioning well enough. At , we recommend that customers in St. Louis, MO, and its surrounding communities choose our AC maintenance services at least once every year. This is done to make sure that your AC system keeps operating at peak condition. Whether your air conditioner is malfunctioning or not, it is always a good idea to have our skilled technicians inspect your equipment annually. The following are six benefits that show why annual tune-ups are absolutely vital. 1. Improved Energy Efficiency As your AC unit operates around-the-clock to maintain your indoor comfort, it is likely to pick up dust, fluff, debris, and other pollutants. The presence of unwanted particulates means that your unit works even harder than usual to deliver cool air into your household. Regular maintenance helps get rid of these substances, hence allowing your system to operate more efficiently. This will lead to less energy consumption. This greatly reduces your carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable planet. 2. Lower Utility Bills An aging or underperforming AC unit not only affects the efficiency of...
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The Best Electric Heating Systems As the temperature outside dips lower and lower, you deserve a warm home to live in and enjoy your daily life. The dilemma comes when deciding the best way to keep your home warm throughout the long and blustery St. Louis winter. Natural gas furnaces are a popular and economical choice. However, natural gas furnaces can have some drawbacks, including the risk of exposure to carbon monoxide. If you choose to heat your home with electricity instead of natural gas, it’s important to choose the electric heating system that will heat your home most efficiently. Here are a few insights into electric heating systems to help you choose the best one for your needs. Challenges of Heating With Electricity While heating your home with electricity eliminates the risk of an explosion or of exposing yourself to carbon monoxide, there are some challenges of heating with this fuel source. The main challenge is that traditional electric furnaces aren’t all that efficient at producing warm air when compared to natural gas furnaces. Since natural gas furnaces can reach a higher temperature than electric furnaces, natural gas units can heat more air more efficiently. In an electric furnace,...
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Coronavirus Protocol As we continue to monitor the unforeseen situation that is present with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and associated illnesses, Scott-Lee Heating has developed this policy to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all team members, visitors, customers and stakeholders. Scott-Lee Heating wishes to ensure all customers that we have continuity plans in place to deliver uninterrupted service and support to customers as we navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19. Scott-Lee Heating has implemented an extensive COVID-19 Policy accompanied by our COVID-19 Temporary Risk Management Procedures. We have implemented additional sanitization and cleaning protocols in our office, warehouses, fleet vehicles, and work locations. We have equipped field staff with the necessary equipment to ensure safe working procedures in homes and businesses of our customers. We have increased options for remote work where possible. The policy and procedures set in place are largely precautionary and will be constantly monitored and adjusted. Scott-Lee Heating Company Plan No employees showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be working while showing symptoms, and will not return until medically cleared. Prior to each home visit, your technician will call to confirm the appointment. At this time, the technician will describe the increased sanitary measures and confirm nobody...
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Making Your Home More Energy-Efficient Among the many expenses you pay as a homeowner, utility bills can be one of the most costly. Keeping your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter requires a large amount of energy, especially when you’re faced with the sometimes extreme weather in St. Louis. To help save money, it’s vital that you take steps to improve your home’s energy efficiency. By keeping conditioned air inside your home, your HVAC system won’t have to run as often, saving you a lot of money. Here are a few tips to help you make your home more energy-efficient. New Windows If you have older windows in your residence, they could be costing you dearly when it comes to your energy costs. In addition to being inefficient due to the older technology, they also tend to have gaps around the frame that cause air leaks. Even with these gaps sealed, older windows are quite inefficient at stopping the transfer of heat from inside to outside or outside to inside, depending on the season. New windows, however, use multiple panes of glass with gas between each pane to slow down the flow of energy, thus increasing...
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How Thermostats Work The thermostat is at the heart of every heating and cooling system. It’s the component that triggers the equipment to turn itself on and off automatically. There are several types of thermostats, and each has a specific way of sensing temperature changes in the home. Electronic Thermostats If you own a home built in the last several decades, you probably have an electronic thermostat. This type of control is also called a digital thermostat. These devices contain an electronic sensor that determines the temperature and responds by turning the system on or off. Most electronic controls are programmable and enabled for Wi-Fi. This means their operation can happen automatically based upon the settings provided by the homeowner. Electromechanical Thermostats There was a time when heating and cooling equipment was managed using an electromechanical thermostat. Many older homes may still have these devices connected to their heaters or air conditioners. Changes in room temperature are tracked using a bimetallic coil. As temperatures rise and fall, the coil expands or contracts, causing a mercury-filled glass vial connected to the coil to tip. The tipped vial triggers the unit on or off. Perhaps it sounds like something you’d find in...
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Different Types Of Heating Systems If you want to install the best heating system for your home, you must know what the different types of heating systems are. A heating company also needs to evaluate your home to know what size and type of heating system is compatible. Here is an overview of the four main types of heating systems you can install: 1. Furnaces This is the most common type of heating system. It sends heated air through ducts and into your home through vents. Furnaces can be fueled by electricity, oil, or gas. Modern furnaces of all fuel sources are safe to use and good inefficiency. Gas furnaces heat your home faster than electric furnaces. However, an electric furnace works well for southern states. Those who live in the North should consider a gas furnace instead of an electric. has high-quality, affordable furnaces available for installation in St. Louis, MO, and the surrounding areas. We also sell geothermal systems and heat pumps. 2. Boilers As its name suggests, a boiler uses water heating technology to warm your home. Boilers circulate hot water through pipes. Some types of boilers run water through tubing in the floor. Radiators are installed...
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Running Your Heating System 24/7 When it comes to warming your home during the cold months in the St. Louis area, you certainly have the option of turning your heating system on for the season and letting it go the distance. However, many homeowners are leery of doing this. They figure that their heating systems should run until they reach the specified temperature and then take a break. There are many benefits to running your system nonstop. If you want to make sure your furnace is ready for such an undertaking, bring in a team of qualified HVAC technicians, like those on staff at in St. Louis, for an inspection and tune-up. Before you run your system 24/7, here are some things you should know. It’s Perfectly Fine for Your System to Run Continuously Many homeowners worry about excessive wear and tear on their heating systems if they run nonstop. Your heating system is resilient, and it’s designed to run all day, every day. You don’t have to worry about certain components breaking down or losing years of life of your system. Many homeowners across the country opt to keep their systems running throughout the cold season. Expenses Associated With...
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