Balanced Ventilation Systems: Keeping Indoor Air Fresh, Clean, and Comfortable

July 9, 2025

In the past, ventilation systems weren’t really necessary due to the way that homes were built and the materials that were used. Most older homes have plenty of passive ventilation due to their exterior structure not being very airtight. You’ll sometimes hear people talk about how old houses can breathe, as they have gaps in their exterior envelope that result in air continually flowing in and out. Advances in building practices and the development of better building materials have resulted in homes continually becoming tighter, meaning there are few, if any, gaps in the envelope. Having a well-sealed envelope is important for ensuring that the house is as energy efficient as possible and costs less to cool and heat. However, it also comes at a cost since it prevents the house from having any passive ventilation. This is where installing a balanced ventilation system can be extremely beneficial. In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons ventilation is important for your home as well as how balanced ventilation works and what types of systems are available. The Role Ventilation Plays in Indoor Air Quality and Comfort Insufficient ventilation can create significant issues in terms of indoor air quality and humidity control....

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Bio-Based Insulation Materials: Enhancing HVAC Efficiency and Eco-Friendliness

July 2, 2025

There continues to be a significant push to create more sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials, especially in areas like construction and HVAC. Part of this push is that heating and cooling are among the most significant contributors to energy consumption, meaning they directly contribute to a large percentage of the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. This push has led to the development of new construction practices and building materials that allow buildings to be much more energy efficient and cost less to heat and cool. It’s also led to the development of more energy-efficient HVAC equipment and a move towards all-electric HVAC systems instead of systems that run on fossil fuels. One of the more recent developments is the increased use of bio-based insulation materials rather than traditional synthetic materials. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common organic and bio-based insulation materials and their pros and cons, and discuss the impact insulation has on HVAC efficiency. Common Types of Bio-Based Insulation Companies nowadays produce bio-based insulation from a wide variety of natural materials. One option that’s long been popular as an alternative to fiberglass is cellulose insulation made of plant fibers. Most cellulose insulation is...

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Beyond the Basement Dehumidifier: Advanced Strategies for Controlling Humidity

June 16, 2025

Relying on a single portable dehumidifier is suitable for a single room, but it cannot help with a whole home. While these units can help for a short time, they often don’t address the bigger issue. Humidity can originate from crawl spaces, leaking ducts, or everyday activities like cooking and laundry. Without a broader plan, moisture will always return. in St. Louis, MO, helps homeowners manage indoor humidity from the ground up. Bathroom Fans That Do the Job Your bathroom fan does more than remove steam after a shower. If it’s old, weak, or not used daily, it can do very little to prevent humidity in your home. Moisture from bathing settles on walls and seeps into drywall, raising humidity in nearby rooms. A bathroom fan, aimed for 1 CFM per square foot of bathroom area, eliminates air and sustains airflow until all moisture is gone. Choose a fan that matches your bathroom size and vents moisture outdoors. If your exhaust fan vents into the ceiling or crawl space, it traps moisture indoors instead of releasing it outdoors, indicating incorrect installation. Upgrading your exhaust fan is an easy solution. Newer models are quiet and feature humidity sensors that activate the...

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Hybrid VRF Systems Explained: Combining Air and Water for Peak Efficiency

June 9, 2025

If you’re interested in the most efficient HVAC solution available, new, cutting-edge hybrid VRF systems are an excellent option. However, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of them since they’re a variation of a relatively new technology. Here’s everything you need to know about hybrid VRF systems and how they use refrigerant and water to deliver maximum efficiency. What Is a VRF HVAC? To understand hybrid VRF systems, you must first understand their predecessors. VRF stands for variable refrigerant flow. It refers to a specific type of ductless heat pump system. The name itself offers a decent clue as to how VRF systems work. It means that they include variable-speed inverter compressors. That allows a VRF system to increase and decrease its heating and cooling capacity as needed. For example, if you only need heating or cooling in a single room, a VRF system’s compressor will run at low power. That reduces operating costs while still delivering the required refrigerant flow to the single operating air handler. Then, as demand increases, the compressor speeds up to accommodate it. Many VRF systems have another high-efficiency trick. It involves using a third refrigerant line between each air handler and the system’s...

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The Future of Heating: Exploring Hydrogen-Ready Furnaces and Boilers

June 2, 2025

The goal of carbon neutrality is a global pursuit. One emerging concept in this effort enamors energy companies, policymakers, and engineers: the possibility of hydrogen-ready heating systems. Specifically, hydrogen-ready boilers and furnaces are positioned as possible game-changers for residential and commercial heating applications. These systems are designed to operate using natural gas now, before seamlessly transitioning to hydrogen later. The idea is that these appliances could reduce carbon emissions in many homes without total infrastructure overhauls being necessary. However, is hydrogen heat part of the future and a source of clean energy? The appeal is understandable because hydrogen burns cleanly and only produces water vapor as a byproduct. On the other hand, the reality of the situation is far more nuanced. How Hydrogen Heating Systems Work Hydrogen’s combustion basics go down to its core as a highly flammable gas that burns cleanly. If combusted inside a properly calibrated burner, this molecule mixes with oxygen to create water vapor. This process doesn’t produce soot, particulate matter, or carbon dioxide. The cleanliness of this makes burning hydrogen an exciting possibility to eventually replace fossil fuels, such as natural gas, that release pollutants and greenhouse gases when burned. A hydrogen-ready boiler or furnace...

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Inverter Technology 101: What Homeowners Need to Know About Modern AC Units

May 19, 2025

If your old AC feels either all on or completely off, that’s not your imagination; it’s probably so. Traditional systems cycle hard, blast cool air, and then shut down until the space warms up again. Inverter technology flips that script by adjusting power gradually, keeping your home cooler and more consistent without all the highs and lows. It’s like cruise control for your air conditioner. What Inverter Technology Actually Does At the heart of it, the inverter refers to how the air conditioner compressor runs. Instead of running at one fixed speed, like a traditional system, the inverter lets the compressor adjust how fast or slow it runs based on what the home needs. It gradually speeds up or slows down to keep things even. This method keeps the temperature more stable and reduces the sudden spikes in power that traditional systems create. Why It Sounds So Much Quieter If you’ve ever had an AC unit that rattled to life like a small engine and then thumped off with a shudder, you know how distracting it can be. One of the biggest perks of an inverter system is how smooth it sounds during operation. Because the compressor doesn’t turn on...

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Preventing Refrigerant Loss and High HVAC Repair Costs

May 12, 2025

Some of the most common HVAC repair issues point to a single issue that’s simple to address. Refrigerant sits at the core of nearly all heat pumps and AC units. As a system loses refrigerant, though, the components have to work harder to achieve the same levels of heating or cooling. Consequently, refrigerant loss is a common driver of high HVAC repair costs. How Refrigerants Work Refrigerant in an HVAC system operates within a closed loop. In other words, your heat pump or AC doesn’t consume refrigerant in the same way that something like a car would consume gas and oil. Instead, the refrigerant is a transfer medium for heat. If the system is in a cooling mode, such as an AC unit during summer heat, the refrigerant transfers the heat through the system to outdoor coils so it can release the unwanted heat. Likewise, the refrigerant in a heat pump captures latent heat from the outdoors and brings it inside. The process involves a state change as the refrigerant converts from a liquid to a gas and back. The refrigerant can perform this loop for years on end in a closed system with close to no natural operating losses....

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How Air Curtains Improve Energy Efficiency in Entryways and Commercial Spaces

May 5, 2025

If you are looking for a way to improve the energy efficiency of your business in St. Louis, MO, consider an air curtain. Many industries find it beneficial to use air curtains, from warehouses to restaurants. While these amazing devices save energy and lower utility costs, they also keep employees and guests more comfortable throughout the workday. Our professional technicians can quickly and easily install an air curtain over almost any business’s entryway and other doors. What Is an Air Curtain? An air curtain is a device that creates an invisible barrier over openings such as entryways and doors. This barrier prevents air exchange between interior and exterior spaces. The goal is to keep dust, pests, debris, and other pollutants out of specific spaces to create a clean space. Plus, it controls the temperature of a space while allowing businesses in St. Louis to operate regularly. How an Air Curtain Works Air curtains feature a downward-facing blower fan mounted over an entrance, doorway, or another opening between two spaces. The air curtain pulls air from the space’s HVAC system when running. A fan accelerates the air, using a nozzle to blow a continuous, controlled air stream to the bottom of...

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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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