Dynamic Glass Windows: Lowering Your HVAC Load With Innovative Glazing

April 16, 2025

Imagine windows that react to sunlight like sunglasses but still let your space stay bright and welcoming. That’s the idea behind dynamic glass. It tints automatically when the sun gets intense and clears up when the skies calm down, helping your HVAC system take a break. in St. Louis, MO brings this smart glazing technology to homeowners and business owners who want energy savings without sacrificing comfort. If you’ve ever cranked the air conditioning just to fight back afternoon glare, this kind of window may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. How Dynamic Glass Reacts to Changing Light Regular windows stay the same no matter what the sky looks like. They let in light, whether it’s mild or harsh, and once heat passes through, your HVAC system has to deal with it. Dynamic glass works differently. It adjusts its tint depending on the sun. When the light gets intense, the glass darkens. When the clouds roll in, it clears again. This change isn’t just for looks. The tint blocks solar heat and reduces glare without completely shutting out daylight. You don’t need blinds or shades to make the room comfortable. Rather, the glass does that part on its own....

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Radiant Floor Heating: Is It a Viable Heating Option for St. Louis Homes?

April 9, 2025

If you’ve ever stepped onto a warm bathroom floor in the middle of winter, you know the appeal of radiant heating. Unlike traditional forced-air systems, radiant floor heating works from the ground up, delivering steady warmth without noisy vents or dust-filled air. In climates like St. Louis, where winters can be unpredictable and spring doesn’t always arrive on schedule, it’s worth asking whether this system makes sense for your home. How Radiant Floor Heating Works Radiant floor heating uses warmth that rises from beneath your floors rather than relying on warm air pushed through vents. Pipes or electric coils sit under the floor and heat the surface evenly. This setup spreads warmth across the room in a way that feels steady and natural. You won’t feel blasts of hot air or hear a fan kick on. Instead, your feet stay warm, and the heat moves upward gradually. Since the temperature stays consistent, you don’t need to keep adjusting the thermostat. Where the System Makes the Most Sense Radiant floor heating makes the biggest impact in rooms where people spend time barefoot or seated. Bathrooms, basements, and kitchens are great examples. These areas often feel chilly, especially with tile or concrete...

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ERV or HRV? Choosing the Right Ventilation System for Balanced Indoor Airflow

April 2, 2025

If your home feels stuffy, overly dry in winter, or too humid in summer, your ventilation system might need an upgrade. Today’s tightly sealed homes do a great job of keeping in heat or cool air, but they also trap stale air inside. That’s where systems like ERVs and HRVs come into play. These systems pull in clean air from outside and push out old indoor air, all while keeping your indoor temperature steady. What These Systems Actually Do When you look at an energy recovery ventilator or a heat recovery ventilator, the name might sound complicated. The job they do is pretty simple. Both systems bring fresh air into your home and move stale indoor air out. But instead of just trading air, they also help keep indoor temperatures steady. So, in winter, the cold outside air doesn’t flood your living room with icy drafts. In summer, you don’t end up pulling in warm, sticky air. These systems help your HVAC setup work better without wasting what you’ve already paid to heat or cool. The way they manage that balance is where the two start to differ. They both recover energy from the air moving out and use it...

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Why VRF Systems Are Gaining Popularity in Commercial and Multi-Family Buildings

March 20, 2025

Managing a commercial building or multi-family property means juggling a lot, and keeping everyone comfortable is often one of the biggest headaches. Some rooms are freezing while others feel like a sauna, and you’re left dealing with complaints and high energy bills. That’s why more building owners are turning to VRF systems—they let you heat and cool different spaces at once while using less energy. At in St. Louis, MO, we’ve worked with businesses and property owners to upgrade their buildings with VRF technology, and we’ve seen firsthand how it can make a difference. Whether you’re looking to cut costs, reduce complaints, or just upgrade an aging system, VRF might be exactly what you need. What Makes a VRF System Different From Traditional HVAC? If you’ve been dealing with a standard heating and cooling system in your building for years, you probably know how it works. The air conditioner kicks on, cools the whole building, then shuts off. It’s the same thing when you turn on the heat. It’s either blasting or off, and you’re always messing with the thermostat, trying to get it just right. One room feels too hot, another stays cold, and you’re left wondering why it’s...

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Guide To Air Filters And Indoor Air Quality

March 13, 2025

If you have poor respiratory health, you are not alone. About 10% of adults and nearly 7% of children have asthma, while 14% of adults have been diagnosed with some form of chronic lung disease, like COPD. Respiratory symptoms are common, and our homes are often to blame. Air ducts and other components can trap particulate matter and recirculate unhealthy fumes, leading to poor indoor air quality. Modern air filters can remove many indoor air pollutants from your home. We can help you understand your options and pick the right filters for the job. You Need Clean Air Poor air quality is a common consequence of modern lifestyles. Many household products, such as paint, glue, and cleaning supplies, release harmful fumes. Your furniture can also introduce volatile organic compounds into your home. Our pets contaminate the air with their dander, and dust can build up in any house. Most buildings contain a diverse collection of pollutants, and they can all cause serious health problems. Air pollution contributes to some of the most frequent and irritating respiratory issues. Dust, spores, and pollen are common allergens that can cause coughing, congestion, and sneezing. Particulate matter can also trigger asthma attacks or irritate...

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How to Tap Into Missouri’s HVAC Rebates and Incentives for Energy-Efficient Upgrades

March 6, 2025

Upgrading your HVAC system is one of those things you know you’ll need to do eventually, but the price tag can make you push it off—especially when your current system is still limping along. What you might not know is Missouri offers rebates and incentives to make those upgrades a lot easier on your wallet. These programs are designed to help you install energy-efficient heating and cooling systems while cutting your energy bills in the long run. Figuring out what’s available, which systems qualify, and how to apply can feel like piecing together a puzzle, though. You don’t want to leave free money on the table, but you also don’t want to spend hours digging through paperwork. At in St. Louis, MO, we’ve helped plenty of homeowners in Missouri get the most out of these rebates and set up systems that save money year after year. Knowing what’s out there means you can upgrade your comfort without breaking the bank. Understanding How Rebates Work When you hear the word rebate, it probably sounds like one of those “too good to be true” things. But when it comes to HVAC systems, rebates are real, and they can save you a chunk...

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Smart Zoning Systems: Targeted Comfort and Energy Savings for Every Room

February 15, 2025

Is your home unevenly cooled, with some rooms taking longer to reach a comfortable temperature than others? This is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning issue that impacts many homeowners in the St. Louis area. The problem often occurs in multi-story homes where heat rises to the upper levels. If your home’s second floor takes too long to cool while the ground level is too cold, your HVAC system is malfunctioning. Many inquiries we receive about uneven indoor temperatures come from clients with older residential HVAC systems. Most cases involve a central HVAC system, but some feature ductless mini-split systems that have lost efficiency. Smart zoning, an HVAC technique that divides your home into separate climate zones, can benefit all scenarios. Here is everything you need to know about zoning systems. The Basics of Smart Zoning Central, spot, and zoning strategies can effectively achieve indoor climate control. Central HVAC systems are designed to deliver conditioned air throughout buildings. Spot climate control utilizes window-mounted air conditioners and portable heaters. As the name suggests, zoning directs cool and warm air to specific areas, such as bedrooms. You can achieve HVAC zoning in various ways. The simplest but least efficient method would be...

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Smart Thermostat vs. Programmable Thermostats: Which Is Better?

February 8, 2025

Thermostats have come a long way in recent years. Thermostats of the past only had one temperature setting and allowed users to select three simple modes: cool, heat, and fan. The thermostat could be adjusted manually as needed. Its only job was to maintain a specific temperature in your home at all times, and it did it well. Today’s thermostats use less energy while saving money on energy costs by adapting to your needs. At here in St. Louis, MO, we understand that choosing the right thermostat is an effective way for today’s homeowners to save time and money. This guide will help you choose the thermostat that is right for you Programmable Thermostats Programmable thermostats allow users to set heating and cooling schedules based on weekly routines. Unlike smart thermostats, they don’t require Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a smartphone to operate. This makes them an excellent choice for those seeking a simple, energy-saving solution. Once set up, the thermostat follows the schedule you set for it automatically, providing convenience and efficiency without any fuss. To save money, choose more comfortable settings when people are present at home and energy-efficient settings for when they are not. Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat...

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Air-to-Water Heat Pumps: Efficient Heating and Cooling for Missouri Winters

February 1, 2025

An air-to-water heat pump is an efficient heating and cooling option that is available for homeowners in the St. Louis, MO area. In the winter months, there is the potential to save money on your monthly heating bills while also maintaining optimal indoor comfort and indoor air quality. What Is an Air-to-Water Heat Pump? An air-to-water heat pump is a central heating system that uses heat from the outside to heat the inside of your home. You may be wondering how this is possible since it tends to be cold outside during the Missouri winter. Many heat pumps work efficiently at freezing temperatures. Using heat transfer technology, an air-to-water heat pump transfers heat from the outside air through a series of radiators and ducts. Some homes decide to use multiple methods of distributing heat to achieve consistent indoor comfort. In the summer months, you can use an air-to-water heat pump to cool your home as well. Cooled water moves through the system’s pipes using the process of refrigeration. You may need to make some adjustments to your setup based on your home’s design, such as insulating your pipework or monitoring for excess condensation. In addition, since radiators and radiant flooring...

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Using Smart Air Vents and Registers for Efficiency and Comfort

January 17, 2025

A new technological advancement in the HVAC industry is smart air vents and registers. This equipment allows homeowners to have more control over the efficiency and comfort of their home. Whether you’re using your heating or cooling equipment, these smart air vents and registers use automation, sensors, and a smart thermostat to control the airflow to specific rooms in your St. Louis, MO, home. Let’s take a more in-depth look at smart air vents and registers to understand how they work and how they can benefit your home. How Do Smart Air Vents and Registers Work? Using sensors, smart vents and registers can detect the amount of fresh air in a room and the temperature of the air in the room. They will then open and close based on this information. This helps keep your home at a more consistent temperature, promotes healthy indoor air quality, reduces unnecessary HVAC use, and conserves energy. This is a replacement for the traditional vent covers that you already have in your home. They come in different colors and styles, allowing you to match the overall appearance of your residence. There are motors and louvers in each of these vents and registers. This is...

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